2024 AFL: Kildare home games for Carlow?

It has taken some time but this week it is expected that the full list of the Allianz Football and Hurling League fixtures for the 2024 series will be released by Croke Park.

Some weeks ago a 'proposed' set of fixtures were sent to every county throughout the country, asking for their opinions, their views, and if there were any changes they might propose, dates etc.

Those 'proposed' fixtures included dates, but no venues, and now this week the entire fixture list will be released with all the relevant information. That, of course,  means decision time for Kildare, at least from a football point of view.

As we stated a few weeks ago in the Leinster Leader (https://www.leinsterleader.ie/!panel/content/content_insert.jsp?id=1336095) while the AHL home games for Kildare will take place in Manguard Park, Hawkfield, the venue for football league games were still up for discussion.

It was notable in recent times that certain sections of the national press were suggesting Kildare would agree to play, some, if not all, of their 'home' games in Croke Park. However as we pointed out at the time, at least one of those games would be played in Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, part of the agreement to play the Kildare SFC and the IFC finals at the venue a few months ago; a fixture that worked out very satisfactory for all involved.

There is no doubt that Croke Park are very anxious to double-up Kildare with Dublin games at Headquarters, no doubt The Lilies playing the curtain-raiser for The Dubs but as we have pointed out Kildare's record in Croke Park over the past sixteen years is simply appalling, with just three wins from 21 appearances.

But now it is decision time for Kildare and for those charged with the task of deciding (Kildare Co. Board along, with, presumably, the team management) the most advantageous venue(s) to play their fixtures in Division 2 of the AFL.

With four 'home' games this time around, venues are of paramount importance and when one looks at the four 'home' opponents, Cavan, Armagh, Donegal and Louth, it hardly takes rocket science to suggest that to bring some, or any, of those counties to Croke Park would be ludricious from a Kildare point of view.

Alternative options include Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, O'Connor Park, Tullamore; Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, possibly even Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, with of course, those counties agreement.

However with one game already penciled in for Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, it certainly seems logical to play all four 'home' games in the same venue.

The more one looks at it, the more once comes to the conclusion that Kildare fans 'home' for 2024 as they await the re-development of Cedral St Conleth's Park, due to be back in League action come the end of January 2025, will be Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow.

We await the confirmed fixtures from Croke Park with much anticipation.